Togo/Sport - Africa Cup of Nations suspension

Togo suspended from next two Africa Cup of Nations

Article published on the 2010-01-30 Latest update 2010-01-30 15:57 TU

Pallbearers carry the coffin of assistant coach Amalete Abaldo at his funeral in Lome, 15 January 2010. Press officer Stan Ocloo was burried Saturday.
(Photo: Reuters)

The Confederation of African football (CAF) announced Saturday that Togo will not be allowed to play in the next two Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), and that they will be fined 50,000 dollars (36,000 euros) for leaving this year’s competition. They withdrew after three people were killed in an ambush on the team’s bus in Angola on 8 January.

The CAF cited the Togolese government’s decision to withdraw the team from competition after the attack as government interference in the sport, which is against regulations.

“The decision taken by the political authorities is infringing CAF and CAN regulations,” it said in a statement posted on its website. 

“Therefore, a decision has been taken to suspend the Togo national team for the next two editions of Africa Cup of Nations, with a fine of $50,000.00 handed to the Togolese national football association.”

The Togolese team withdrew from competition in this year’s CAN in Angola, after an assistant coach and a press officer were killed in a gun ambush on its bus going through Cabinda province.

The team was called back for three days of mourning after the attack. It wanted to come back to compete, but withdrew on the first day of the tournament (10 January) on orders from the government.